This review covers the downtempo track Moby – We Are All Made of Stars.
This track was released in 2002 on the album 18.
The track starts with a drum kit. A bass guitar joins the track. After that, the vocals join the track for a verse.
When the other guitars join the track, the vocals go into the main guitar.
Right after that, the vocals take the track into the next verse. After that, the vocals take the track into the main chorus again. This is capped off with a quasi-instrumental section. Various elements drop out and a 303-like synth backs some whispering.
From there, the vocals continue with another verse. The vocals then immediately take the track into the main chorus. This main chorus is extended with some backup vocals echoing the main vocals. Synth strings also back this part of the track. This is capped off with vocal elements along with other elements. The master volume then fades the track out.
For me, this strikes me as one of those tracks that has enough quality to be a decent track, but then just stops and rests on the idea of being an OK track. The vocals work quite well. Those main vocals are nice and articulate. They even play well with the backup vocals with the backup vocals not simply just being layered in with the main vocals. So, there is some decent creativity from a production angle on those.
A problem with the track is that some of the transitions are borderline non-existent. As a result, the track just bleeds from section to section and kind of makes the listening experience a bit mushy in a bad way.
On the plus side, I think the guitars work well for the track. While this is an ambient-style track, this track shows that electric guitars can work in such an audio environment. It actually has me tempted to call this a soft rock track because it has those elements in there.
Another problem, however, is that I couldn’t really hear very many elements that make this track distinct. There is a 303-like synth, but it sits largely in the background and is only seemingly there for some added texture. I would have liked to have heard of something more that makes this track stand out from other tracks. An idea might be to add another synth and give it a solo part way through. I think it’s possible to make that mesh well and help elevate the overall sound of the track at the same time.
Overall, it’s a decent track. The vocals work well and the backup vocals offer a certain degree of production creativity to the overall track. The guitars work quite nicely as well. Some of the transitions could have used some work and there isn’t really that much that makes this a particularly distinct track. For me, you can very easily do a whole lot worse with this track, but there’s certainly better out there too. So, a decent track all around.
Score
7/10
Drew Wilson on Twitter: @icecube85 and Facebook.
